Researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Museum, and Capital Normal University has employed a lipid and proteomic approach to analyze ancient carbonized material, known as foodcrust, on pottery from the Taihu Lake region in eastern China. Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the study provides molecular insights into the subsistence strategies of ancient people during the late Neolithic era (around 5800–5300 BP) in the Taihu Lake area.
Examining 57 pottery sherds with foodcrusts, mainly attributed to the Songze cultural period, the researchers utilized lipid analysis platforms, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and proteomics platforms. The study unveiled a range of compounds in the foodcrusts, shedding light on the dietary practices and pottery functions during the late Neolithic period.
The foodcrusts revealed concentrations of lipid compounds from starch plants like rice and millet, along with freshwater and seafood oils, and non-ruminant and ruminant adipose fats. Biomarkers for rice, such as two vitamin E compounds (γ-tocopherol and α-tocopherol) and aliphatic alcohols, were identified. Additionally, millet biomarkers were discovered, indicating a southward transmission of millet to the Taihu Lake region before 5800 BP.
Notably, the study identified specific peptides from muscle proteins of large yellow croaker and mandarin fish, as well as mammal collagen proteins from wild Caprinae and an unsequenced Perissodactyla species, providing the first evidence of marine fish remains from this period.
The findings suggested versatile use of pottery, such as Ding and Zeng, for cooking various animal and plant ingredients. The integration of lipid and proteomic analyses offered complementary information about ancient subsistence strategies, emphasizing the potential of these methods in the analysis of organic residues in foodcrusts.
Rao Huiyun, the chief analyst for the study, highlighted the importance of combining lipid and proteomic analysis for a more comprehensive understanding of ancient diets and resource utilization. Prof. Yang Yimin, the principal investigator, noted the significance of lipid analysis in Chinese archaeology and its potential to advance research on ancient civilizations.
Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences